Day by day, life at school grew increasingly hectic, with evening self-study sessions lasting until 11 p.m. Despite the busyness, Su Feiyan strove to adapt to the rhythm of high school life. Though he was no longer that lonely child, he still maintained his calm and independence.
Since he first sought help from his roommates, his relationship with them had become more open. He no longer bore all his confusion and troubles alone. After classes, he would sometimes chat with his roommates or ask for their help. Especially when facing the heavy academic pressure, he had learned to let his guard down and seek advice from others.
His deskmate, Lin Xi, was a shy and introverted girl. Su Feiyan noticed that she always sat quietly in her seat, listening intently to lessons and rarely initiating conversations. Her face often bore a faint blush, as if she wasn't very good at interacting with others. Whenever Su Feiyan had questions, she would softly and gently assist him. Although her voice was quiet, it carried an indescribable warmth. Over time, Su Feiyan grew accustomed to discussing problems with her. Occasionally, Lin Xi would share snippets of her life with a shy smile. While she wasn't as outgoing as other girls, her sincerity and kindness shone through her gaze and her smiles.
After the afternoon classes ended, Su Feiyan often sneaked into the school's piano room to practice. Playing the piano was a passion he had never abandoned. Though no one at school knew he could play, it remained a secret hobby of his. Since being adopted, he had lost contact with most people from the orphanage, but he kept in touch with his piano teacher. Occasionally, his teacher would message him on WeChat, and he would share his school life in return.
One day, after a class ended, Su Feiyan took out his phone to check the messages from his piano teacher. The teacher's tone was always humorous, like a friend chatting casually.
"Xiao Feiyan, how are things going? Are you swamped with schoolwork? Still finding time to play the piano?"
A small smile crept onto Su Feiyan's face as he replied, "Pretty busy, lots of classes, but I haven't forgotten to play. I sneaked into the piano room to practice this afternoon."
The teacher quickly replied, "Sneaked in, huh? So no one knows you can play piano?"
Su Feiyan chuckled softly as he typed back, "Yeah, no one knows. They only know I like playing fighting games and don't mention any other hobbies."
The teacher teased, "What about that adorable deskmate you mentioned yesterday? Does she know you can play the piano?"
Feeling a little embarrassed, Su Feiyan replied, "She… well, she sometimes hums a tune, but I haven't had the chance to talk to her about music."
The teacher pressed on, "Oh? You've heard her hum? How does she sound? Maybe she has some musical talent too."
With a smile, Su Feiyan replied, "Her voice is very nice, soft and sweet."
The teacher joked, "Well, then you'd better practice harder so you can confidently play something for her."
Su Feiyan softly replied, "I'll wait until I'm better, then I'll play for her."
The teacher added, "When you're ready, play a piece for her. She'll surely feel your passion for music. Don't forget, I've always believed in your talent."
Taking a deep breath, Su Feiyan felt the warmth and encouragement in his teacher's words, fueling his determination to continue practicing.
Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from his mom. Her familiar voice carried concern.
"Hello, son. How are you? Is everything okay at school? Any difficulties?"
"I'm fine, Mom. Everything's good at school. I'm still adjusting," Su Feiyan replied.
His mom continued, "How's school life? Is it busy?"
"Very busy. Lots of homework, and evening self-study lasts until late," Su Feiyan said calmly, though his tone revealed a trace of fatigue. "But I can handle it."
His mom, sounding a bit worried, said, "Are you sure? If it ever gets too much, remember to rest. Don't push yourself too hard—your health is the most important."
With a smile, Su Feiyan replied, "I know, Mom. I'll take care of myself."
Then his mom mentioned his younger sister. "By the way, your sister was praised by her teacher. She's been doing really well. She even asked when you'll be coming home."
Su Feiyan chuckled, "Really? She's amazing! What did she say? Does she miss me?"
With a teasing tone, his mom said, "She said she doesn't miss you at all."
Su Feiyan laughed softly, "That's too bad. I guess I'll only treat the sister who misses me to soup dumplings."
Suddenly, his sister's playful voice chimed in over the phone, "I miss you so much, big brother!" Her tone was sweet and mischievous, filling Su Feiyan's heart with warmth.
"Alright then, I'll take you for soup dumplings when I get home," he said, still smiling.
After hanging up, his parents continued their conversation at home. His dad asked quietly, "How's he doing? Is everything okay?"
His mom, her tone laced with concern, said, "He's adjusting well, but school is really demanding. Lots of homework, and evening study goes until 11 p.m."
His dad frowned slightly. "That's a long time. Did he say if he feels tired?"
His mom chuckled softly. "He said he's fine, that he can handle it. Oh, and he told me about a cute girl in his class."
His dad raised an eyebrow. "A girl?"
With a smile, his mom explained, "Yes, his deskmate. It seems he likes her quite a bit—he said she's very cute."
His dad nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. At least he has a friend there."
Though her voice still carried a trace of worry, his mom spoke firmly. "I asked him if he felt overwhelmed or pressured, but he said he's fine and can manage."
His dad pondered for a moment before saying, "It's tough, but he's been through so much—I trust he can handle it. I just hope he doesn't feel too lonely."
His mom was silent for a moment before speaking with determination. "I believe in him. He's a strong kid; he can handle anything."
Her words reassured his dad somewhat, though he still felt a tinge of concern. "You're right. I just hope he doesn't feel alone."
Holding her husband's hand, she smiled and said, "No matter where he is, we trust he'll do great. He's outstanding, and he'll find his own path."